Woman ripped off school’s fundraiser with $2,900 phony check, cops say

Florham Park Police say a Cartaret woman used a bad check to purchase $2,900 in supermarket gift cards that were being sold as part of a school fundraiser.

Morgan E. Lang, 32, was arrested and charged with theft by deception, executing a fraudulent check, assuming a false identity and purposely issuing a check on a closed account, according to a press release by the Florham Park Police Department.

Police said they were initially contacted on Dec. 7 at 8:44 a.m. by school officials who said a fraudulent check was passed by an unknown female who tried using it to purchase $2,900 worth of ShopRite gift cards that were being sold as a fundraiser for the Holy Family School Association.

According to the press release, on Dec. 3 at 9:30 a.m., Lang went to Holy Family School looking to purchase gift cards she said were going to be used to help families in need. She requested 29 gift cards worth $100 each, then paid for them with a check.

"It was later determined that the check, as well as the organization she claimed to represent, was fraudulent and the associated account did not exist," police said.

The case was investigated by Detective Brian Ford of the Florham Park Police Department, who identified the suspect.

Lang was arrested, processed and released pending a future Morris County Superior Court date. It was also discovered that she had outstanding warrants on similar charges from Phillipsburg and Wyckoff police departments.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.